There’s surely no better way to welcome in the festival season than with Leicester’s Uprising. Its friendly vibe and diverse line-up encapsulates all that’s great about a musical jamboree and the organisers have done a great job in selecting an array of artists across the whole spectrum of heaviness. The eighth edition of Uprising has been reconfigured and pared back, this year we have a single stage, and that means there’s no clashes to worry about or fear of missing out and with the calibre of bands on show, you’ll want to catch every act.
They’re running a little late with the soundchecks today, but if it flusters openers Sulvain, it doesn’t show. Originating in Northampton, they’re bursting at the seams with energy and original tracks such as ‘Rain’ soon pull the stragglers in from the bar. A lively set which makes them a hard act to follow.
Voidwalker are no strangers to Uprising, having won Metal To The Masses here in 2023, and the intervening years have found them honing their craft into a tight ball of aggression and today they dish out the heavy stuff. With riffs dredged from the depths of hades, this crew make for an arresting affair and songs like ‘Boiling Point’ raise the temperature exponentially.
The enigmatically-titled The Grey are a power trio in its purest definition (i.e. powerful) and create a sound that is far bigger than their constituent parts. Their (largely) instrumental music speaks in a way that vocalised music never could and the three musicians conspire to create soundscapes that are so vast and immovable they can barely be comprehended, and today they shake the venue to its very core.
A lightning bolt cracking a Nordic sky, Underdark appear with little warning, and they’re all the more powerful for it. The blastbeats they unleash are totally insane whilst vocalist Abi Vasquez radiates charisma, confidently commandeering centre stage (and the barrier). They make good use of musical dynamics, delivering a full-on affair and one that takes no prisoners.
Self-described purveyors of “industrial noise pop”, TAYNE present their sound in caps rage, placing sweet melodies and violent riffs in a blender and then serving up a volatile cocktail. A steamroller crushing all in their path, TAYNE become an unstoppable force and with each member pushing things to the limit, they’re akin to three heavyweight boxers slugging it out and leave the crowd battered and bruised (but in the nicest way).
With recent album Chemical Well out in the world and garnering great reviews, Obeyer are a band full of confidence, and they hit the stage as such. It’s the musical equivalent of a violent street brawl that leaves you wondering what hit you. As vocalist Carl Brown prowls the stage like a caged animal, the band drop a succession of bombs that sends shards of razor sharp sonics throughout the venue.
Four very different characters who come together in a unified whole, Sheffield’s Hidden Mothers are a band of many facets. A diamond shining light in every direction, they’re an intriguing tension of opposites from the clean and guttural vocals to their heavy but emotive sound and, of course, those quiet passages which make the louder all the more bombastic. It’s a solid set and one which marks this band ones to watch.
It’s a joy to witness a band at the top of their game and rocking with the confidence that brings and Defences are a prime example. With soulful vocals floating over a raucous beat, they ensure every pair of eyes (and ears) are turned towards the stage. This is one of those magical sets when you can almost feel the intangible bond between band and crowd. A well-oiled machine, tonight finds Defences very much on the offensive.
As we head towards the evening Black Orchid Empire arrive and hit the sweet spot with their riff heavy, hard hitting sound. They’re playing like their life depends on it and are powered by a drummer who seems intent on pounding his kit to dust and with songs such as ‘Angelfire’ in their arsenal, they really can’t go wrong. ‘Evergreen’ is as fresh as the day it was written whist closer ‘Death From Above’ suggests these guys are going to be around for a while.
Lowen are another band making a welcome return to Uprising and it’s been a pleasure watching this band grow organically and they thoroughly deserve their prominent position on the bill. Some inventive use of props means Lowen soon cast a spell over the venue. The drums are thunderous, the guitar churns out riffs as if from a meat grinder, but the real star of the show is Nina Saeidi and her vocals fill the entire the venue. A Persian call to prayer, her voice magnetically pulls people from all parts of the Academy towards the stage and means Lowen have won more than a few friends today.
2025 is shaping up to be a key year for Esoterica. With a UK tour promised for the autumn and their fifth long player primed for release, it feels as if the band are standing on the precipice of big things. That brings the kind of pressure which could break a band, but by the time Esoterica hit second track ‘dysUTOPIA’ they are firmly in their groove and rocking their signature sound. They employ tonality to great effect and they resonate with the listener on some deep, primordial level. Newer song ‘Alive’ finds the band in ruddy health as vocalist Tobias Keast makes a sojourn to sing from the beer garden. With their progressive leanings, part of Esoterica’s charm is never knowing where they’ll veer next, but on the strength of tonight’s performance, my guess is straight to the top.
Today has showcased what a deep and diverse heavy music scene the UK has, and a band who have paved for many younger artists are tonight’s headliners earthtone9. They are a collective who know a thing or two about pleasing a festival crowd and immediately place their foot on the accelerator, appearing as if a rockfall covering the venue. There’s no time for fancy introductions, just a humongous riff and then the band are off, assailing our senses with some of the very best skull-crushing metal. This urgency will characterise their set; the gaps between songs are kept to the bare minimum and, along with the tectonic shifts inside their songs, only adds to the feeling of power. Even some technical issues can’t derail their progress; once resolved the band pick right up where they left off and swing with Sabbath-like force. As we approach curfew the crowd still find energy for a lively pit (perhaps the ultimate sign of affirmation) and as the band depart within a wall of glorious feedback, earthtone9 have proved themselves worthy headliners and bring the curtain down on another successful Uprising.
Review by Peter Dennis
Photos by Gary Trueman